Boxer or Blonde
Chapter 5 Left hook – Right cross
"What's new, Janko?" The pair are cruising their sector on a midnight tour.
"Well, I met a guy at the gym."
"This guy has a name?"
"Nick, a commodities trader."
"Oh, one of those." Jamie frowns.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Eddie looks puzzled.
"Well, I like people who do real work."
"Hey, people in financial services do real work . . . wait a damn minute. Are you going to talk about my dad?"
"No, no Eddie. I was not!"
"Ass!"
Silence.
They drive on. Stopping for a hot dog for a snack.
15 MINUTES LATER
"I don't feel good, Reagan." He stops the car.
Eddie gets out and rushes to a trash can and tosses her cookies.
"Eddie, you, ok?"
"No; that dog is biting me. Can you take me back to the 12th, I'll go home for the rest of the day."
'I'm glad I learned that trick in college'.
"Are you sure you'll be, ok?"
"Yeah, just take me back, please?"
"Ok, sit on that bench over there for a minute. Let's make sure your stomach is empty."
"I will, thanks."
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2 DAYS LATER
Jamie looks around, his partner (in her rookie year, having finished her probie year) is late for roll call.
"Reagan, you are riding with Walsh today," Sergent Renzulli announces. "See me after roll call."
In Renzulli's office
"Reagan, your partner banged in sick today. Can you check on her after tour?"
"Will do, anything else?"
"No, dismissed."
"Thanks Serge," Jamie exits and looks for his partner for the day.
He finds Kara Walsh leaning against their RMP, juggling the car keys.
He walks up to her and holds his hand out.
Kara looks at him, puzzled. Then she realizes – he thinks he's driving. Ha, she has heard all about this from Eddie.
She shakes her head. "No, you walk your little self around to the passenger side, get in and buckle up. I am driving, buddy!"
He decides not to push this. He knows better than to start the day off with an argument with Kara. She's as tough a cookie as Eddie; they are BFF after all.
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LATER
"Have you heard anything from Eddie," Jamie asks. "It's rare for her to bang in sick."
"Well . . . I really shouldn't say." Kara hedges.
"Come on Walsh. I'm her partner!"
"Well, she had a date last night."
"And?" Jamie's hackles raise.
"It didn't go so well," Kara wishes he hadn't started on this topic.
"Kara! What the hell happened?" Jamie presses now.
"Her date wanted more than she was willing to give him."
"KARA, did she tell you what happened?"
"Sort of," Kara really wants to back out of this. She knows Jamie will NOT let this go.
"Sort of? WHAT THE HELL! Tell me, now!" Jamie is shouting.
Kara pulls over and stops. She tells Jamie all she knows. Unfortunately, he is not fit to continue their tour now. She calls in to put them on meal break; he doesn't want to eat so she walks over to a food cart and gets two coffees, hoping that will give him time to settle down.
It does.
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"Renzulli asked me to check on my partner after tour," Jamie starts. "If I do that alone, I will probably blow a gasket. Can you come with me, Kara?"
"Damn, I have a commitment with Dylan."
"Your boyfriend?"
"Yeah. Can you get someone else?"
"Ah . . . yes. I'll call Olive."
"Your girlfriend, right?"
"Yup, I hope she isn't busy." He sends Olive a TXT; she can make it. He lets out a huge sigh of relief.
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AFTER TOUR
Jamie picks up Olive and then drives to Eddie's apartment block. They walk up to the 2nd floor and knock on #25.
After several long moments Gayle opens the door a crack. (Gayle is Eddie's best friend from HS and helps her with Lizzie)
"What do you want?" Gayle asks softly.
"Hi, I'm Officer Reagan, Eddie's partner at work. This is Olive, my girlfriend. I am just checking on Eddie, to see how she is and if she needs anything."
"She's pretty rough, but we have everything covered. I'll tell her you stopped by." She tries to close the door, but Jamie sticks his foot in the way.
"Is Lizzie, ok? Is there anything we can do?" Olive asks.
"Just a moment," Gayle leaves to talk with Eddie. She returns shortly. "Can you keep Elizabeth for a couple of days, while Eddie sorts things out?"
Jamie looks to Olive for a moment; she nods, knowing Jamie has to work and she will need to do most of the caring for Lizzie.
"Are you sure?" He asks.
"Yes," she is certain, she wants to do this.
"Yes, we can do that. Can you pack a bag for Lizzie?"
"Yes, please come in and wait in the living room while I do that."
They come in and sit on the couch. Eddie is probably in her bedroom.
When she realizes what is happening, Lizzie runs out from the back and jumps into Olive's arms.
"I'm going to stay with you and Officer Jamme for a while! Is that ok?" The excited little girl exclaims.
"It's perfectly fine," Olive beams.
Jamie grins and gives Lizzie a kiss on the cheek.
Gayle brings out 2 bags, one for clothes and one for toys etc. "Eddie is so grateful, thanks so much."
"You take care of her, and tell her not to hesitate to call if there is anything else that she or you need. And, I'll tell Serge about the situation," Jamie tells Gayle.
"Get better quick," he shouts as they prepare to leave.
He hears a quiet "Thank you", from the bedroom.
Lizzie stays with Jamie & Olive while her mother pulls herself together. The couple work out a schedule for "Lizzie care" so that Olive's training regimen isn't interrupted in a major way. Lizzie's attachment to Olive and Uncle Jamee grows exponentially!
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Eddie is granted 2 weeks personal leave after she tells Renzulli the story of her abuse and sexual assault during the "date from hell". Jamie continues to ride with Kara Walsh during this time. He learns some things about Eddie that he didn't know; he promises not to tell.
One week into this time, Gayle calls Jamie.
"Officer Reagan, I need your help! Eddie has gone after her attacker!"
"What? When?"
"Just now, she's out for revenge!"
Damn! "Where is she going?"
"I don't know where. I have his phone number though, will that help?"
"Yes, what is it?"
Gayle gives Jamie the perp's phone number. He logs onto the NYPD database and reverse engineers the address. Olive drives and Jamie holds Lizzie on his lap; he doesn't have a child car seat nor someone to watch her. They will figure this out later.
Olive parks just down the block from the perp's apartment building. They see Eddie's Porsche parked several cars ahead of them, it looks like she is slumped down in the driver's seat.
"Let me handle her Jamie," Olive whispers.
"You sure?"
"I got this, babe."
"Ok. I'll keep Lizzie with me."
Olive leans over to give her man a kiss, then one for Lizzie too. "Lizzie, I'll keep your mommy from making a big mistake, ok?" Olive whispers.
"Thank you," Lizzie whispers. Tears run down her little cheeks.
They see the perp round the corner, walking towards the front steps of his building. Olive gets out, sneaking around to the front of the Porsche. Eddie gets out and slides to the sidewalk, ready to cross the street and confront.
Olive steps in front of her, halting her movement. She places both hands firmly on Eddie's shoulders.
"Eddie, take it from a girl who has made lots of mistakes. You DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS. You will ruin your career, and he will come out as the victim. There is a better way; Jamie and I can help you. Go back home and we will call you, ok?"
Eddie drops her head. "Ok, thank you, and Jamie. Damn, he always has my back!"
"Sweetie, that's what good partners do. And he's the best, trust me on that!"
They hug briefly, and Eddie gets in her car and goes back home.
Olive slides back into the driver's seat.
"What did you say to her?" Jamie wants to know.
"Girl talk." She smirks.
"What! No way, what did you say?"
"Girl talk. All you need to know."
Jamie huffs and sulks.
"Jamme, you, ok?" Lizzie asks.
"No."
"Is my mommy gonna be ok?"
"Yes, sweetie. She will be ok," Olive assures the little girl.
Lizzie curls up closer in Jamme's lap.
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2 weeks later Jamie, Eddie and Kara arrest Eddie's attacker. Lizzie goes back home. Jamie and Olive resume normal activities. 😉
The Reagan household remains divided – and sad. What's the solution?
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TBC
